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REPORT 


SPECIAL    COMMITTEE 


OF   THE 


Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Brooklyn 


UPON   THE 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  OPENING 


,w  Kork  ahp  Brooklyn  Bridg 


1  883. 


REPORT  OF  TRE  SPECIAL  COMMITTEE 


The  HoippEjHE  Common  Council 


To  the  Honorable,  the  Common  Council: 

The  Special  Committee  upon  the  celebration  of  the 
opening  of  the  New  York  and  Brooklyn  Bridge  have 
the  honor  to  present  the  following 

REPORT: 

The  successful  completion  of  the  great  work— the 
grandest  triumph  of  genius  and  skill  in  modern  times — 
and  its  important  bearing  upon  the  material  interests  of 
Brooklyn,  seemed  to  properly  require  of  our  citizens 
that  the  actual  opening  of  the  Bridge  for  public  use 
should  be  specially  commemorated  by  the  City,  aside 
from  the  ceremonies  designed  by  the  Trustees  of  the 
Bridge. 


Inspired  with  this  view,  the  following  preamble  and 
resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  Common  Council  on 
April  30,  1883. 

rjTHEREAS,  It  is  reported  in  the  daily  papers  of 
^  the  City  that  the  New  York  and  Brooklyn  Bridge 
is  ji bout  to  be  opened  to  public  travel,  though  all 
official  notice  thereof  has  been  carefully  reserved  from 
the   Common  Council  of  either  City ;  and, 

HERE  AS,  It  is  in  like  manner  reported  that 
™  the  opening  of  the  Bridge  is  to  be  attended  by 
some  ceremonies,  apparently  private  in  character,  access 
to  which  is  debarred  to  the  public  and  to  be  granted  to 
the  few,  by  an  arbitrary  selection  to  be  exercised  by  the 
Trustees  of  the  Bridge. 

fESOLVED,  That  the  Trustees  are  hereby  respect- 
fully requested  to  have  the  opening  of  the  Bridge 
celebrated  in  a  manner  consistent  with  its  public  nature 
and  purposes,  and  with  ceremonies  common  to  all, 
without  invidious  distinction. 

RESOLVED,  That  the  Trustees  are  respectfully  re- 

^  quested  to  give  to  this  Common  Council  ample 
notice  of  the  day   of     such    opening,  and  of  their  pro- 


5 

posed  plan  of  its  celebration,  to  the  end  that  this 
Body  may  co-operate  in  all  proper  ways  and  with  all 
proper  meaus,  to  mark  the  event  in  a  manner  appropriate 
to  the  importance  of  the  under  taking  now  completed, 
and  appropriate  to  the  interest  of  the  public  for  whose 
use  it  is  intended. 

fc  ESOLYED,  That  a  special  committee,  consisting  of 

^  live  members  of  this  Board,  be  appointed  by  the 

President  to   present    these    resolutions  to  the  Trustees 

of  the  Bridge,  and  report   to    this   Board    the   result  of 

such  communication. 

In  pursuance  of  these  resolutions,  the  President  of  the 
Board  appointed  as  such  special  committee,  Aldermen 
Dimon,  McCarty,  Houghton,  Behmau  and  Ormsbee. 

The  Committee,  on  May  7th,  made  to  your  Board 
the  following  report : 


REPORT  OF  THE  SPECIAL  COMMITTEE 

APPOINTED  TO  CONFER  WITH 

The  Trustees  of  the    New  York    and 
Brooklyn  Bridge. 


To  the  Honorable,  the  Common  Council: 

Gentlemen:  The  Special  Committee,  to  confer  with 
the  Trustees  of  the  New  York  and  Brooklyn  Bridge  in 
reference  to  the  celebration  of  its  opening  to  travel, 
respectfully 

REPORT : 

That  on  Thursday  last,  in  accordance  with  an  ap- 
pointment made  with  Acting-  President  Kingsley,  your 
Committee  was  courteously  received  at  the  offices  of  the 
Bridge  by  the  Celebration  Committee  of  the  Trustees. 
Mr.  Kingsley  briefly  outlined  the  celebration  ceremonies 
proposed  by  the  Trustees,  and  which  have  been  reported 
in  the  daily  papers  of  this  City,  namely,  the  receiving 
and  escorting  the  President  of  the  United  States  by  the 


Seventh  and  Twenty-third  Regiments,  K.  G.,  S.  K  Y., 
and  the  presentation  of  the  Bridge  by  the  Trustees  to 
the  authorities  of  the  two  Cities,  the  acceptance  by  the 
Mayors  respectively,  and  orations  to  be  delivered  by 
eminent  speakers. 

The  exercises  above  outlined  are  intended  to  be  held 
at  the  depot  at  the  Brooklyn  approach.  Seats  for 
about  five  thousand  persons  are  expected  to  be  pre- 
pared, and  invitations  to  attend  are  to  be  issued  to  the 
chief  officials  of  every  State,  to  the  various  civil  author- 
ities of  Kew  York  and  Brooklyn,  and  to  representative 
and  prominent  citizens  of  these  Cities. 

To  this  programme,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mayor  Low 
and  your  Committee,  the  Trustees  have  concluded  to 
add  a  grand  pyrotechnic  display  in  the  evening,  the 
details  of  which  have  not  been  finally  decided  upon. 

Your  Committee  has  also  conferred  with  his  Honor 
Mayor  Low,  who  has  zealously  entered  into  the  project 
for  a  celebration  by  Brooklyn  of  the  consummation  of 
the  great  work  which  promises  so  much  of  benefit  to 
this  City,  and  the  action  proposed  by  your  Committee 
for  this  Board  meets  his  hearty  approval.  He  further 
informs  your  Committee  that  in  all  probability  the  Pres- 
ident of  the    United   States  and    the   Governor  of  this 


8 

State  will  accept  a  public  reception  tendered  by  the  City 
on  the  day  of  the  celebration. 

Your  Committee  offer  for  adoption  the  following  reso- 
lutions, believing  that  they  meet  the  wishes  of  the 
people  of  our  City : 

Resolved,  That  this  Common  Council  decides  that  the 
opening  of  the  New  York  and  Brooklyn  Bridge  be  cele- 
brated by  the  municipality  on  the  same  day  with  the 
ceremony  fixed  by  the  Trustees,  namely,  the  24th  of  this 
month. 

That  power  to  arrange  a  proper  form  of  celebration 
is  hereby  given  to  the  Special  Committee  making  this 
report  in  connection  with  his  Honor  the  Mayor. 

That  the  Board  of  Education  is  hereby  requested  to 
cause  the  schools  of  this  City  under  their  charge  to  be 
closed  on  that  day. 

That  the  various  offices  and  departments  of  the  City 
government  be  closed  after  1 1  o'clock  a.  m.  on  that  day. 

That  the  citizens  of  Brooklyn  are  requested  to  close 
their  places  of  business  at  that  hour  and  to  decorate 
their  houses,  and  in  the  evening  to  cause  them  to  be 
illuminated. 

That  the  proper  authorities  are  hereby  requested  and 
authorized  to  cause  the  City  Hail,  Municipal  Buildings, 


9 

Police  Station  Houses,  and  Fire  Engine  Houses  to  be 
decorated  and  illuminated  on  that  day  and  evening-. 

That  the  owners  and  officers  of  the  shipping-  in  our 
port  are  respectfully  requested  to  display  their  bunting 
during  that  day. 

That  the  Comptroller  is  hereby  directed  to  set  aside 
and  appropriate  for  the  purpose  of  such  celebration  by 
the  City  authorities,  the  sum  of  rive  thousand  dollars 
from  unexpended  balances,  or  other  sources  applicable, 
to  be  expended  only  under  the  direction  and  upon  the 
requisition  of  his  Honor  the  Mayor. 

That  this  Common  Council  hereby  permits  the  exhi- 
bition on  the  evening  of  the  day  of  the  celebration,  of 
all  tire-works  and  other  pyrotechnics  as  are  permitted 
on  the  Fourth  of  July. 

Eesolved,  That  the  City  Clerk  is  hereby  directed  to 
cause  to  be  published  the  foregoing  resolutions  in  the 
official  newspapers  and  to  send  a  copy  to  the  Board  of 
Education  and  to  the  heads  of  the  various  City  Depart- 
ments. 

Resolved,  That  this  Common  Council,  in  the  name  of 
the  City  of  Brooklyn,  hereby  respectfully  tenders  to  the 
President  of  the  United  Slates  and  to  the  Governor  of 
the   State   of    New   York,    a    public    reception    by   our 


10 

citizens,  at  such  hour  and  place  on  the  day  of  the 
celebration  of  the  bridge  opening-  as  may  be  arranged 
by  their  Excellencies  and  his  Honor,  the  Mayor. 

Besolved,  That  the  City  Clerk  is  hereby  directed  to 
forward  through  the  hands  of  his  Honor,  the  Mayor,  a 
copy  of  the  foregoing  resolution  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States  and  to  the  Governor  of  the  State 
of  New  York. 

Eespectfully  submitted, 


) 


THEO.  D.  DIMON, 
JOHN  MCCARTY,  I         SpecM 

JOHN  P.  ORMSBEE,       [      Committee. 
OWEN  E.  HOUGHTON,  J 


The  resolutions  attached  to  the  report  were  duly 
approved  by  the  Mayor. 

Consultations  between  the  Mayor  and  your  Com- 
mittee were  frequently  held  during  the  time  from  the 
date  of  the  adoption  of  the  above  resolution  to  the 
24th  of  May.  As  the  result  of  such  conferences,  a 
programme  for  the  celebration  was  adopted,  including 


11 

substantially  the  ideas  embodied  in  the  report,  and 
adding  the  firing  of  salutes  from  Fort  Greene  and  from 
a  point  in  the  Eastern  District;  the  playing  of  music 
by  bands  at  Fort  Greene,  Prospect  Park,  and  in  the 
Eastern  District ;  the  reception  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Governor  of  the  State,  at  the 
Academy  of  Music,  on  the  evening  of  the  24th,  and 
the  procession  of  the  City  officials  aud  their  invited 
guests,  from  the  Gity  Hall  to  the  bridge  previous  to 
the  ceremonies  held  under  auspices  of  the  Trustees. 

The  arrangement  of  the  details  of  the  programme 
and  the  disbursing  of  the  money  appropriated,  were 
entrusted  to  the  Mayor. 

A  suggestion  was  made  that  a  procession  of  the 
citizens  and  tradesmen  would  be  a  desirable  feature 
of  the  municipal  celebration.  This  was  deemed  finally 
uuadvisable  and  was  abandoned. 

In  response  to  the  invitatiou  extended  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  the  following  letter  of  ac- 
ceptance was  received  : 


12 


Executive  Mansion,  ) 

Washington,  D.  0.,  May  15th,  1883.  ) 

My  Dear  Sir  : 

The  President  has  received  your  letter  of  the  4th 
instant,  transmitting  copy  of  resolutions  of  the  Com- 
mon Council  of  Brooklyn,  tendering  him  a  reception 
on  the  evening  of  the  24th  of  May,  in  connection 
with  the  ceremonies  incident  to  the  opening  of  the 
New  York  and  Brooklyn  Bridge,  and  desires  me  to 
say  that  he  accepts  with  pleasure  the  courtesy  ex- 
tended. Expressing  his  appreciation  of  the  compli- 
ment conveyed, 

I  am,  very  truly  yours, 

FRED.  J.  PHILLIPS, 

Private  Sec  ret  a  ry . 
The  Honorable  Seth  Low, 

Mayor,    Brooklyn,   N.   Y. 


13 

At  first  it  appeared  that  the  Governor  would  be  un- 
able to  be  present  at  the  reception,  owing,  as  was 
stated  by  his  Secretary,  to  the  great  pressure  of  busi- 
ness demanding  his  attention  so  soon  after  the  ad- 
journment of  the  Legislature,  but  he  at  last  telegraph- 
ed his  acceptance  of  the  invitation. 

On  May  17th,  the  Mayor  issued  the  following  proc- 
lamation, which  was  published  in  all  the  daily  papers. 

To  the  People  of  Brooklyn : 

By  resolution  of  the  Common  Council  a  public  recep- 
tion has  been  tendered  on  behalf  of  our  City  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States  and  the  Governor  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  on  the  evening  of  May  24th, 
in  connection  with  the  opening  of  the  New  York  and 
Brooklyn   Bridge. 

The  President  and  the  Governor  have  been  pleased 
to  signify  their  acceptance  of  the  proffered  courtesy, 
and  it  now  remains  for  the  people  to  co-operate  with 
the  City  authorities  to  make  the  occasion  a  memorable 
one  in  the  history  of  Brooklyn. 

In  addition  to  tins  reception  it  is  the  desire  of  the 
Authorities,  in    which  hope  they  believe  they  represent 


14 

faithfully  the   wishes  of  our   citizens,  that   the   day  in 
Brooklyn  be  made  a  gala  day. 

To  this  end  the  City  Govern meut  hereby  request 
that  all  schools  be  closed  upon  that  day.  The  various 
officers  and  departments  of  the  city  government  will 
be  closed  at  11  a.  m. 

The  citizens  of  Brooklyn  are  requested  to  close  their 
places  of  business,  and  themselves  and  their  employes 
to  keep  holiday  on  that  day.  The  City  Buildings  will 
be  decorated  by  day  and  illuminated  at  night. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  decoration  and  illumination  of 
houses  will  be  general  and  beautiful.  It  is  especially 
desired  that  all  buildings  on  the  City  Hall  Square  and 
the  streets  leading  thence  to  the  Bridge,  be  brilliantly 
illuminated. 

In  connection  with  fire-works  at  the  Bridge,  the 
owners  of  shipping  and  the  warehousemen  along  the 
river  front,  are  earnestly  requested  to  do  what  they  can 
to  make  the  river  and  the  bay  beautiful  with  bunting 
and  with  fire -works.  A  little  effort  on  the  part  of 
many  will  make  the  night  scene  upon  the  river 
memorable. 

In  conformity   with  the  resolutions  of  the  Common 


15 

Council,  I  have  the   honor  to  ask   the   co-operation  of 
the  people  of  Brooklyn  in  all  these  things. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  the  City  Hall, 
Brooklyn,  this  17th  day  of  May,  1883. 

SETH  LOW,  Mayor. 

This  met  with  a  hearty  and  general  response  from 
our  citizens. 

The  ideas  of  the  Mayor  and  Common  Council  thus 
placed  in  form,  and  outlining"  a  proper  commemoration 
of  the  great  event,  were  adopted  by  the  public  with 
enthusiasm.  Generous  preparations  for  the  celebration 
were  made  with  a  degree  of  unanimity  that  was  most 
admirable,  and  everything  betokened  that  the  24th  day 
of  May,  1883,  would  long  remain  memorable. 

The  pride  of  the  humblest  citizen  was  aroused  with 
that  of  his  more  pretentious  neighbor  to  mark  the  day 
with  all  the  means  in  his  power. 

All  distinction  of  birth  or  nationality  vanished,  and 
one  and  all  united  to  emphasize  their  devotion  to 
Brooklyn — their  home,  and  their  glory  in  her  prosperity 
and  greatness. 

Nor  was  this  spirit  to  be  found  only  in  the  individ- 
ual.     All   places   of    business    were   advertised   to    be 


1G 

closed  at  the  hour  designated  in  the  Mayor's  procla- 
mation ;  the  United  States  officials  in  this  city  were 
authorized  by  the  National  Government  to  join  appro- 
priately in  the  display  and  ceremonies  of  the  day ;  the 
Judges  of  the  various  Courts  determined  to  adjourn 
over  the  celebration ;  the  schools  were  ordered  closed ; 
the  various  Departments  of  the  city  complied  with  the 
resolutions  of  your  Board  ;  the  Long  Island  Eailroad 
reduced  its  fares  for  the  day,  offering  special  advan- 
tages for  passengers  to  enjoy  the  opportunity  of  wit- 
nessing our  celebration ;  the  theatres  and  other  places 
of  public  amusement  presented  unusual  attractions 
to  their  patrons. 

On  May  22d,  the  following  notice  was  sent  to  the 
persons  named  in  it : 

Mayor's  Office,  City  Hall,         > 
Brooklyn,  May  22,  1883.  > 

It  is  desired  that  the  following  gentlemen  meet  in 
the  Common  Council  Chamber,  at  12  M.,  the  24th  inst. 
for  the  purpose  of  going  to  the  Bridge  under  escort: 

The  Comptroller  and  Auditor,  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men, the  Brooklyn  Members  of  the  Bridge  Trustees, 
the  Heads  of  Departments  and  their  Deputies,  the 
Park  Commissioners,  the  Board  of  Education,  the  Board 


17 

of  Assessors,  the  Board  of  Elections,  the  Judiciary,  the 
County  Officials,  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  the  Mem- 
bers of  Congress,  the  United  States  Officials,  Brooklyn 
Members  of  the  Legislature,  the  ex-Mayors,  ex-Comp- 
trollers, the  ex- Auditors  of  the  city ;  the  Society  of 
Old  Brooklynites,  the  Memorial  Committee  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Eepnblic,  Major-General  Com- 
manding Military  Division  of  the  Atlantic,  and  Staff; 
the  Commodore  Commanding  the  Naval  Station  of  the 
port  of  New  York,  and  Staff ;  Officers  of  the  United 
States  Army  and  Navy,  Brigadier-Generals  of  the  Sec- 
ond Division,  and  their  Staffs. 

SETH  LOW, 

Mayor. 

Theo.  D.  Djmon,  John  McOarty,  Owen  E.  Hough- 
ton, Louis  C.  Behman,  J.  P.  Ormsbee, 

Committee  of  Common  Council. 

And  the  following  programme  for  the  Bridge  and 
City  celebrations,  was  determined  upon  by  the  Bridge 
Trustees  and  City   Authorities: 

Assembly  of  Fifth  United  States  Artillery  and  Ma- 
tines  at  their  respective    barracks,  about  9.30  A.  M. 


18 

Assembly  of  Twenty- third  Regiment,  National  Guard, 
at   the   Armory,  Clermont   avenue,    this   city,  at    10.45 

A.   M. 

Assembly  of  Third  Gatling  Battery,  National  Guard, 
at  Armory  of  Fourteenth  Regiment,  North  Portland 
avenue,  this  city,  at  1  p.  M. 

Assembly  of  the  Seventh  Regiment,  at  their  Armory, 
Sixty-sixth  street  and  Fourth  avenue,  New  York,  at 
10  A.  M. 

Assembly  in  the  Common  Council  Chamber,  tbis  city, 
at  12  m.,  as  follows :  The  Comptroller  and  Auditor, 
Mayor  Low  and  Board  of  Aldermen,  Brooklyn  Mem- 
bers of  the  Bridge  Trustees,  Heads  of  Departments 
and  their  Deputies,  Park  Commissioners,  Board  of  Ed- 
ucation, Board  of  Assessors,  Board  of  Elections,  Judi- 
ciary, County  Officials,  Board  of  Supervisors,  Members 
of  Congress,  United  States  Officials,  Brooklyn  Members 
of  the  Legislature,  ex-Mayors,  ex-Comptrollers  and  ex- 
Auditors  of  the  City,  Society  of  Old  Brooklynites,  Mem- 
orial Committee  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
Major-General  Hancock,  Commanding  Military  Divi- 
sion of  the  Atlantic,  and  Staff;  Officers  of  the  United 
States   Army   and   Navy,  Brigadier-Generals   Christen- 


19 

sen  and  Brownell,  of  the  Second  Division,  and  their 
Staffs. 

Twenty-third  Kegiment,  United  States  Artillery  and 
Marines  escort  the  above  named  to  Sands  street  sta- 
tion building,  this  city,  to  be  there  at  12.45. 

Assembly  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel,  New  York, 
at  11.30,  as  follows :  President  of  the  United  States 
and  Cabinet,  Governor  Cleveland  and  Staff,  Mayor 
Edson  and  Common  Council  of  New  York,  and  other 
Officials  ;  Major-General  Alexander  Shaler  and  Briga- 
dier-Generals of  the  First  Division  and  their  respective 
staffs  and  others. 

Seventh  Regiment  escort  the  above  named  to  the 
Chatham  street  approach,  to  be  there  at  one   o'clock. 

On  arrival  of  guests  from  New  York  at  the  New 
York  tower,  at  1.30,  a  salute  will  be  fired  from  the 
forts  and  ships  of  war. 

On  their  arrival  at  the  Brooklyn  tower,  a  salute  will 
be  fired  by  the  Third  Gatling  Battery  from  Fort  Greene. 

Commencement  of  exercises  at  Sands  street  station 
building,  at  2  p.  m. 

Reception  at  the  residence  of  Colonel  Washington 
A.  Roebling,  110  Columbia  Heights,  this  city,  after  the 
opening  ceremony  until  7  r.  m. 


20 

Dinner  to  the  President  of  the  United  States,  Gov- 
ernor Cleveland  and  other  distinguished  persons  at  the 
residence  of  Mayor  Low,  corner  of  Columbia  Heights 
and  Pierrepont  street,  at  about  six  p.  m. 

Display  of  fire-works  from  the  Bridge  towers  and 
river  span,  from  8  to  9  P.  M. 

Reception  by  the  city  of  Brooklyn  to  the  President 
and  Governor,  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  from  9.30  to 
10.30  p.  m. 

To  say  that  Brooklyn  awoke  in  a  frenzy  on  the 
morning  of  the  24th,  may  possibly  mildly  describe  its 
condition,  and  the  bewildering  confusion  and  bustle 
raged  until  long  after  midnight.  The  streets  were  jam- 
med with  a  multitude  that  was  astonishing  even  to 
our  own  citizens,  and  a  thousand  strangers  were  seen 
where  one  familiar  face  appeared.  But  notwithstand- 
ing the  crowding  and  hustling,  the  innumerable  vehi- 
cles, the  recklessness  and  wild  enjoyment  that  reigned 
supreme,  not  a  casualty  worthy  to  be  called  such,  was 
reported,  and  the  day  passed  without  an  unhappy  re- 
membrance. 

At  noon,  the  City  authorities  and  their  invited  guests 
assembled  in  the  Common  Council  Chamber.  Vener- 
able forms  appeared  amid  the  throng.     Many  who  had 


21 

been  Mayors,  or  Aldermen,  or  who  had  held  other  offices 
in  the  City  Government  in  years  long  gone  by  were 
with  us.  To  them  it  was  an  occasion  full  of  thought- 
ful interest.  Some  had  been  born  in  Brooklyn  before 
it  even  reached  the  dignity  of  an  incorporated  village. 
Many  remembered  it  as  a  city  with  only  a  few  thou- 
sands of  population,  and  insulated  from  the  outside 
world.  And  now  they  were  present  at  the  ceremony 
by  which  their  beloved  city,  teeming  with  a  people  six 
hundred  thousand  strong,  was  to  be  wedded,  indisso- 
lubly,  let  us  hope,  to  the  Empire  City,  by  a  highway 
through  the  air. 

When  properly  arranged  in  Hue,  the  procession  de- 
scended the  steps  of  the  City  Hall  to  find  awaiting  it 
as  an  escort  the  Twenty-third  Eegiment  commanded 
by  Colonel  Rodney  C.  Ward  ;  down  Remsen  street  to 
Henry  street,  along  the  latter  to  Middagh  street,  thence 
through  Fulton  street  to  Sands  street,  to  the  Bridge 
entrance,  the  procession  tramped  to  the  lively  music 
of  the  splendid  band,  and  headed  by  the  Twenty-third 
in  all  its  glory  of  new  uniforms  and  martial  bearing. 

Arrived  at  the  Bridge — glorious  moment — we  real- 
ized that  at  last  the  Bridge  was  finished,  that  the  wire 
and  the  stone  and  the  wood,  so  long  hung  in  various 


22 

shapes,  above,  beside  and  across  the  river,  had  at  last 
been  cunningly  woven  together  into  substance,  and, 
dry  shod,  the  river  might  be  crossed  by  our  people 
who  waited  and  wearied  so  long  for  this  grand  con- 
summation. 

Here  the  line  separated,  and  the  Mayor,  Aldermen, 
and  Trustees,  preceded  by  the  regiment  and  the  Unit- 
ed States  Marine  Corps  from  the  Navy  Yard,  advanced 
upon  the  Bridge  as  far  as  the  Brooklyn  tower,  there 
to  receive  the  President  and  his  Cabinet,  the  Gover- 
nor and  his  Staff,  and  the  New  York  City  authorities. 

The  scene  from  the  platform  about  the  towers  was 
superb,  the  day  and  temperature  perfect.  The  wait- 
ing, though  long,  was  not,  and  could  not  be  tedious. 
Never  before  was  there,  and  probably  never  again 
will  there  be  such  a,  sight.  Description  by  our  pen 
would  be  a  failure  ;  others  have  happily  written  it, 
and  in  thousands  of  households  the  printed  accounts 
of  it  will  be  carefully  preserved  to  be  handed  down 
to   Brooklyn's   posterity. 

At  last  the  roar  of  the  cannon  and  the  shouts 
of  the  multitude,  and  the  shrieking  of  the  steam  ves- 
sels announced  the  President,  the  Governor,  and  oilier 
distinguished   personages.     Accompanied  by    them    and 


23 

by  General  James  Jourdan,  the  Marshal  of  the  day, 
they  were  received  by  our  Authorities,  and  betweeu  the 
presented  arms  of  the  Marine  Corps  and  the  Tweu- 
ty-third  Regiment,  proceeded  down  the  Brooklyn  side 
of  the  Bridge  to  the  depot  where  the  opeuing  ex- 
ercises  were   to   take   place. 

The  thousands  of  people  who  had  been  admitted 
to  the  roadways  of  the  Bridge,  and  the  hundreds 
who  formed  the  escort  from  New  York,  followed  in 
dense  masses,  and  the  building  was  soon  thronged  and 
packed   to  its  utmost   capacity. 

Here  according  to  the  programme  made  up  by  the 
Trustees,  the  ceremonies  appropriate  to  the  delivery 
of  the  Bridge  to  the  two  cities  were  duly  perform- 
ed. As  they  were  not  a  part  of  the  Municipal  cel- 
ebration, and  moreover,  as  the  account  of  them  has 
been  compiled  and  published  under  the  authority  of 
the  Trustees,  your  Committee  have  deemed  them  in 
general  not  necessary  to  be  detailed  in  this  report. 
We,  however,  present  the  address  delivered  by  the 
Mayor  of  our  city  on  the  acceptance  of  the  Bridge 
on  the  part  of  Brooklyn,  as  properly  belonging  to 
our   report. 


24 


Address   of    Mayor    Low. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Trustees: 

With  profound  satisfaction,  on  behalf  of  the  City  of 
Brooklyn,  I  accept  the  completed  Bridge. 

Fourteen  times  the  earth  has  made  its  great  march 
through  the  heavens  since  the  work  began.  The 
vicissitudes  of  fourteen  years  have  tried  the  courage 
and  faith  of  engineers  and  of  people.  At  last  we  all 
rejoice  in  the  signal  triumph.  The  beautiful  and 
stately  structure  fulfills  the  fondest  hope.  It  will  be 
a  source  of  pleasure  to-day  to  every  citizen  that  no 
other  name  is  associated  with  the  end  than  that 
which  has  directed  the  work  from  the  beginning — the 
name  of  Roebling.  With  all  my  heart  I  give  to  him 
who  bears  it  now  the  City's  acknowledgment  and 
thanks. 

Fourteen  years  ago  a  city  of  400,000  people  on  this 
side  the  river  heard  of  a  projected  suspension  bridge 
with  incredulity.  The  span  was  so  long,  the  height  so 
great,  and    the  enterprise    likely    to  be   so    costly,  that 


25 

few  thought  of  it  as  something  begun  in  earnest. 
The  irresistible  demands  of  Commerce  enforced  these 
hard  conditions.  But  Science  said,  "  It  is  possible ; " 
and  Courage  said,  "It  shall  be!" 

To-day  a  city  of  600,000  people  welcomes  with  en- 
thusiasm the  wonderful  creation  of  genius.  Graceful, 
and  yet  majestic,  it  clings  to  the  land  like  a  thing 
that  has  taken  root.  Beautiful  as  a  vision  of  fairy- 
land, it  salutes  our  sight.  The  impression  it  makes 
upon  the  visitor  is  one  of  astonishment,  an  astonish- 
ment that  grows  with  every  visit.  No  one  who  has 
been   upon   it   can   ever   forget    it. 

This  great  structure  cannot  be  confined  to  the 
limits  of  local  pride.  The  glory  of  it  belongs  to  the 
race.  Not  one  shall  see  it  and  not  feel  prouder  to 
be   a  man. 

And  yet  it  is  distinctly  an  American  triumph. 
American  genius  designed  it ;  American  skill  built  it, 
and  American  workshops  made  it.  About  1837,  the 
Screw  Dock  across  the  river,  then  known  as  the 
Hydrostatic  Lifting  Dock,  was  built.  In  order  to  con- 
struct it  the  Americans  of  that  day  were  obliged  to 
have   the   cylinders  cast   in    England.     What   a   stride 


26 

from  1837  to  1883,  from  the  Hydrostatic  Dock  to   the 
New  York  and  Brooklyn    Bridge. 

And  so  this  Bridge  is  a  wonder  of  science.  But  in 
no  less  degree  is  it  a  triumph  of  faith.  I  speak  not 
now  of  the  courage  of  those  who  projected  it.  Except 
for  the  faith  which  removes  mountains,  yonder  river 
conld  not  have  been  spanned  by  this  Bridge.  It  is 
true  that  the  material  which  has  gone  into  it 
has  been  paid  for,  the  labor  which  has  been  spent 
upon  it  has  received  its  hire.  But  the  money  which 
did  these  things  was  not  the  money  of  those  who 
own  the  Bridge.  The  money  was  lent  to  them  on  the 
faith  that  these  two  great  cities  would  redeem  their 
bond.  So  have  the  Alps  been  tunneled  in  our  day, 
and  the  ancient  prophecy  been  fulfilled,  that  faith 
should  remove  mountains.  We  justify  this  faith  in  us 
as  we  pay   for  the   Bridge   by    redeeming  the  bond. 

In  the  course  of  the  constr action  of  the  Bridge  a 
number  of  lives  have  been  lost.  Does  it  not  some- 
times seem  as  though  every  work  of  enduring  value, 
in  the  material  as  in  the  moral  word,  must  needs  be 
purchased  at  the  cost  of  human  life  ?  Let  us  recall 
with  kindness  at  this  hour,  the  work  of  those  who  lab- 
ored  here   faithfully    unto   the   death,  no   less  than    of 


2? 

that  great  ariny  of  men  who  have  wrought  year  in 
and  year  out,  to  execute  the  great  design.  Let  us  give 
our  meed  of  praise  to-day  to  the  humblest  workman 
who  has  here  done  his  duty  well,  no  less  than  to  the 
great  engineer  who  told  him  what  to  do. 

The  importance  of  this  Bridge  in  its  far-reaching 
effects  at  once  entices  and  baffles  the  imagination.  At 
either  end  of  the  Bridge  lies  a  great  city — cities  full 
of  vigorous  life.  The  activities  and  the  energies  of 
each  flow  over  into  the  other.  The  electric  current 
has  conveyed,  unchecked,  between  the  two,  the  inter- 
changing thoughts,  but  the  rapid  river  has  ever  bidden 
halt  to  the  foot  of  man.  It  is  as  though  the  popula- 
tion of  these  cities  had  been  brought  down  to  the  river 
side,  year  after  year,  there  to  be  taught  patience;  and 
as  though  in  this  Bridge,  after  these  many  years, 
patience  had  had  her  perfect  work.  The  ardent  mer- 
chant, the  busy  lawyer,  the  impatient  traveler,  all, 
without  distinction  and  without  exception,  at  the  river, 
have  been  told  to  wait.  No  one  can  compute  the  loss 
of  time  ensuing  daily  from  delays  at  the  ferries  to  the 
multitudes  crossing  the  stream.  And  time  is  not  only 
money,  it  is  opportunity.  Brooklyn  becomes  available 
henceforth   as   a   place   of  residence   to   thousands,    to 


28 

whom  the  ability  to  reach  their  places  of  business  with- 
out interruption  from  fog-  and  ice  is  of  paramount  im- 
portance. To  all  Brooklyn's  present  citizens  a  distinct 
boon  is  given.  The  certainty  of  communication  with 
New  York  afforded  by  the  Bridge  is  the  fundamental 
benefit  it  confers.  Incident  to  this  is  the  opportunity 
it  gives  for  rapid  communication. 

As  the  water  of  the  lakes  found  the  salt  sea  when 
the  Erie  Canal  was  opened,  so  surely  will  quick  com- 
munication seek  and  find  this  noble  Bridge ;  and  as 
the  ships  have  carried  hither  and  thither  the  products 
of  the  mighty  West,  so  shall  diverging  railroads  trans- 
port the  people  swiftly  to  their  homes  in  the  hospit- 
able city  of  Brooklyn. 

The  Erie  Canal  is  a  waterway  through  the  land 
connecting  the  great  West  with  the  older  East.  This 
Bridge  is  a  landway  over  the  water,  connecting  two 
cities  bearing  to  each  other  relations  in  some  respects 
similar.  It  is  the  function  of  such  works  to  bless 
"  both  him  that  gives  and  him  that  takes."  The 
development  of  the  West  has  not  belittled,  but  lias 
enlarged  New  York,  and  Brooklyn  will  grow  by  reason 
of  this  Bridge,  not  at  New  York's  expense,  but  to  her 
permanent    advantage. 


29 

The  Brooklyn  of  1900  can  hardly  be  guessed  at 
from  the  city  of  to-day.  The  hand  of  time  is  a  mighty 
hand.  To  those  who  are  privileged  to  live  in  sight 
of  this  noble  structure,  every  line  of  it  should  be 
eloquent  with  inspiration.  Courage,  enterprise,  skill, 
faith,  endurance— these  are  the  qualities  which  have 
made  the  great  Bridge,  and  these  are  qualities  which 
will  make  our  city  great  and  our  people  great.  God 
grant   they   never   may   be   lacking   in   our  midst. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Trustees,  in  accepting  the  bridge 
at  your  hands,  I  thank  you  warmly  in  Brooklyn's  name 
for   your   manifold   and   arduous   labors. 


30 


If  the  city  in  the  daylight  was  gorgeous  with  its 
parades,  displays  of  flags  and  thronging  multitudes,  it 
was  no  less  so  when  the  sun  had  set. 

The  public  buildings  belonging  to  the  city,  the  Police 
Station  houses,  Fire  Engine  houses,  School  houses,  the 
City  Hall  and  Municipal  Building,  the  United  States 
Court  House,  the  Post  Office,  and  thousands  of  private 
dwellings  were  brilliantly  illuminated ;  thousands  of 
sky-rockets  and  other  pyrotechnics  flashed  and  sparkled 
in  the  darkness,  and  the  whole  water  front  was  lighted 
up  with  the  wonderful  fire-works  on  the  Bridge  and 
on  the  hundreds  of  vessels  that  crowded  the  river. 

When,  and  even  before,  these  displays  had  faded 
away,  the  crowds  in  the  streets  were  pressing  towards 
the  Academy  of  Music  in  hopes  of  taking  part  in  the 
reception  tendered  to  the  President  and  the  Governor. 
This  reception  had  been  designed,  and  was  carried  out 
in  a  truly  democratic  spirit.  All  were  invited  to  take 
part,  and  the  only  limit  was  that  of  time  and  numbers, 


31 

The  Academy  had  been  grandly  prepared  for  the 
occasion,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  J.  H.  White- 
house,  the  chief  designer  of  the  eminent  firm  of 
Tiffany  &  Co.,  of  New  York  city.  To  Mr.  Whitehouse 
are  due  the  thanks  of  the  citizens  of  Brooklyn  for  his 
invaluable  and  gratuitous  services  in  so  elegantly 
arranging  the  decorations  on  this  occasion,  so  import- 
ant and  so  unusual  to  Brooklyn. 

At  the  appointed  hour,  9.20  o'clock  p.  m.,  President 
Arthur  and  Governor  Cleveland,  with  the  Cabinet  of 
the  President  and  the  Staff  of  the  Governor,  with  the 
Mayor  and  other  city  officials,  having  taking  up  their 
position,  the  doors  of  the  academy  were  thrown  open. 
For  one  hour  a  constant  throng  passed  across  the 
floor,  the  mechanic  and  the  man  of  wealth,  the  work 
girl  and  her  mistress,  indiscriminately  and  without 
prejudice,  paid  their  respects  to  the  chief  magistrates 
of  the  Nation  and  the  State. 


32 

During  the  reception,  Conterno's  Old  Guard  Band 
and  Orchestra  rendered  the  following  musical  selec- 
tions : 

1.  National  Air,  "  Hail  Columbia." 

By  band  and  orchestra. 

2.  Overture,  "  La  Muette  de  Portici." Auber 

By  orchestra. 

3  Grand   March,  "Inauguration  of  the  New  York  and 

Brooklyn  Bridge," Conterno 

By  band 

4  Grand  Selection,  "Carmen," Bizet 

By  orchestra. 

5.  Aria,  "  II  Trovatore," Verdi 

By  band. 

6.  Selection,  "  The  Merry  War," Strauss 

By  orchestra. 

7.  March,  "  The  State  of  New  York," Conterno 

By  band. 

8.  Fantasia,  "Martha,"       - Flotow 

By  orchestra. 

9.  Selection,  "  American  Airs," Conterno 

By  band. 

10.  Concert  Polka,  "The  Kemble,"    -  G.  E.  Conterno 

By  orchestra. 

11.  Waltz,  "Artist  Life," Strauss 

By  band. 

12.  Wedding  March,  "Midsummer  Night's  Dream,"     -        -    Mendehsohn 

By  band  and  orchestra. 

Director  of  Music  and  Conductor,       -        -        -        Sig.  Luciano  Conterno 
A  ssistant, Herr  W.  E.  Boleschka 

With  the  closing  of  this  reception,  ended  the  cele- 
bration of  the  Bridge  Opening. 


33 

We  desire  to  call  the  attention  of  your  Board  to  the 
good  order  which  marked  this  reception,  and  to  the 
general  absence  through  the  day  of  acts  of  criminals 
or  disorderly  persons.  This  in  the  greater  part  was 
due  to  the  efficiency  of  our  Police  force.  In  recogni- 
tion of  its  good  work  the  Mayor  properly  sent  the 
following  commimication  to  the  Commissioner  of  Police. 


Mayor's  Office,  ) 


Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  May  25,  1883. 
General  James  Jourdan, 

Commissioner  of  Police  and  Excise : 

Sir— It  is  gratifying  to  realize  this  morning  that 
Brooklyn's  great  Bridge  celebration  has  passed  without 
accident  to  dim  the  rejoicing  and  without  incident 
tending  to  mar  its  festivities. 

It  is  no  doubt  due  greatly  to  the  loyal  and  holiday 
spirit  of  the  people  themselves  that  our  crowded 
thoroughfares  were  the  scenes  of  good  natured  enjoy- 
ment, but  whenever  there  are  great  gatherings  of  peo- 
ple and  large  numbers  to  be  dealt  with,  the  preval- 
ence of  good  order  depends  largely  upon  the  wise 
arrangements  made  to  insure  the  carrying  out  of  the 
programme  without  interruption, 


34 

I  desire  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  admirable 
arrangements  made  in  this  instance,  and  through  you 
to  thank  the  Police  force  for  the  courteous  and  efficient 
service  rendered  by  them.  The  Police  arrangements  at 
the  entrance  of  the  bridge  and  at  the  Academy  were 
all  that  could  be  desired,  and  to  this  the  smoothness 
with  which  everything  passed  off  bears  ample  testi- 
mony. 

I  particularly  wish  to  acknowledge  the  services  of 
the  mounted  squad  in  the  evening,  and  to  thank  them 
for  their  prompt  attention  to  every  duty. 

Eespectfully, 

SETH   LOW, 

Mayor. 


35 


Your  Committee  herewith  append  an  account  of 
the  expenditure  of  the  appropriation  voted  by  your 
Board,  or  rather  of  the  sum  of  $4,647,30,  leaving  an 
unexpended  balance  of  $352,70. 

No  liability  was  incurred  nor  bill  paid  until  first 
approved  by  the  Mayor,  and  your  Committee  feel  that 
it  is  incumbent  on  it  to  report  that  all  the  dis- 
bursements have  been  judicious  and  economical. 

During  the  time  immediately  preceding  the  day  of 
celebration,  the  Mayor  caused  to  be  published  and 
distributed  a  small  pamphlet  as  a  souvenir  of  the 
occasion.  Although  much  of  it  may  seem  as  a  tale 
oft  told,  your  Committee  beg  leave  to  incorporate  a 
portion  of  it  in  this  report,  as  it  seems  proper  that  it 
should  in  some  manner  appear  upon  the  records  of 
this  Common  Council. 


36 

Bridge  Statistics. 


Construction  commenced  January  3,  1870. 
Size  of  New  York  Caisson,  172  x  102  feet. 

"      Brooklyn  "         168x102    " 

Timber  and  iron  in  Caisson,  5,253  cubic  yards. 
Concrete  in  well  hole,  chambers,  etc  ,  5,669  cubic  feet. 
Weight  of  New  York  Caisson,  about  7,000  tons. 

"  concrete  filling,  8,000  tons. 

New  York  Tower  contains  46,945  cubic  yards  of  masonry. 
Brooklyn        "  "         38,214     "        " 

Length  of  river  span,  1,595  feet  6  inches. 

"         each  land  span,  930  feet,  1,860  feet. 

"  Brooklyn  approach^  971  feet. 

New  York       "  1,562  feet  6  inches. 

Total  length  of  Bridge,  5,989  feet. 
Width  of  Bridge,  85  feet. 
Number  of  cables,  4. 
Diameter  of  each  cable,  15f  inches. 
First  wire  was  run  out  May  29,  1877. 
Cable  making  really  commenced  June  11,  1877. 
Length  of  each  single  wire  in  cables,  3,579  feet. 

wire  in  4  cables,  exclusive  of  wrapping  wire,  14,361  miles. 
Weight  of  4  cables,  inclusive  of  wrapping  wire,  3,588£  tons. 
Ultimate  strength  of  each  cable,  12,200  tons. 
Weight  of  wire  (nearly),  11  feet  per  lb. 

Each  cable  contains  5,296  parallel,  not    twisted,  galvanized  steel  oil- 
coated  wires,  closely  wrapped  to  a  solid  cylinder,  15|  inches  in  diameter. 
Depth  of  tower  foundation  below  high  water,  Brooklyn,  45  feet. 

New  York,  78  feet. 
Size  of  towers  at  high  water  line,  140  x  59  feet. 

11  "  roof  course,  136  x  58  feet. 

Total  heigbl  of  towers  above  high  water,  278  feel 


37 


Clear  height  of  Bridge  in  centre  of  river  span  above  high  water,  at 
90°  F.,  135  feet. 

Height  of  floor  at  towers  above  high  water,  119  feet  3  inches. 
Grade  of  roadway,  3£  feet  in  100  feet. 
Height  of  towers  above  roadway,  159  feet. 
Size  of  anchorages  at  base,  129  x  119  feet, 
top,  117x104  feet. 
Weight  of  anchorages,  89  feet  front,  85  feet  rear. 
Weight  of  each  anchor  plate,  23  tons. 
Cost  of  Bridge,  $15,000,000. 


Mayor  of  Brooklyn,  Mayor  of  New  York, 

SETH  LOW,  FRANKLIN  EDSON 

Chief  Engineer, 
WASHINGTON  A.  ROEBL1NG, 

Assistant  Engineers, 
C.  C.  Martin,  Francis  Collingwood, 

Col.  William  H.  Paine,  Geo   W.  McNulty, 

S.  R    Phobasco,  Wiliielm  Hildenbrand 

Master  Mechanic, 
E.  F.  Farrington. 
Brooklyn  Trustees,  1883 

Aaron  Brinkerhoff,  Comptroller, 
William  C.   Kingsley, 


William  Marshall, 
Henry  W.  Slocum, 
James  S.  T.   Stranaiian, 
Alfred  C.  Barnes, 
Alden  S.  Swan, 
Otto  Witte, 
James  Howell, 


New  York  Trustees, 
Allan  Campbell,  Comptroller, 
John  T.  Agnew, 
John  G.  Davis, 
J.  Adriance  Bush, 
Henry  Clausen, 
Thomas  C.  Clarke, 
CnARLES  McDonald, 
H.  K.  Tiicrber, 
Jenkins  Van  Schaick. 


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40 

With  this  report  your  Committee  complete  the  dis- 
cbarge of  the  duties  entrusted  to  it,  conscious  of 
the  fact  that  the  history  of  the  memorable  event  has 
been  but  feebly  told,  but  trusting  that  it  will  not  be 
considered  the  least  interesting  record  of  the  Common 
Council  for  the  year   1883. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

THEO.  D.  DIMON,  Chairman, 

john  Mccarty, 
owen  e.  houghton, 
john  p.  ormsbee, 
louis  c.  behmann, 

Committee. 

Dated,  December  24,  1883, 

City  Hall,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


ii 


i 


/• 


I    Wm. 


